For Lipoedema UK member Lisa, a sponsored naked swim was a fantastic way to fundraise and raise awareness of Lipoedema.
‘What better way to spread awareness and embrace and accept the way we are than by doing a naked swim?’ she says. ‘Swimming and moving in water generally are great ways to get the lymph moving – even if I normally do it with a cozzie on!’
Lisa’s swim took place in Bury St Edmunds leisure centre on 20th July, raising more than £1,000. She said it was a very liberating experience. ‘I was made very welcome by the regulars. There were about 40 people there, just enjoying life. There was no weirdness, no judgements, just basically swimming free. It was very easy getting dressed as well, not having to bother with a wet cozzie afterwards.’
Lisa describes struggling with her body image for many years. ‘I have had, still have, a very long journey of accepting my body the way it is. Now I have a diagnosis of Lipoedema, I’ve become a bit more accepting of myself and what my body can do for me. I have had two lots of breast cancer, several surgeries and lots of trauma over the years. My body is amazing – I keep telling myself that.’
One of Lisa’s bugbears is that Lipoedema is often only diagnosed in midlife or later, many years after symptoms first become apparent. She says, ‘Lipoedema tends to start at puberty or other times of hormonal change, such as pregnancy. And yet a UK survey suggested that the average age of diagnosis is 44. Really? It’s just tragic isn’t it? All those years of dieting and daily exercise to only lose weight at a snail’s pace and not reduce the size of my limbs (I once lost 3 stone and not 1 inch came off my arms or legs). I wish I’d known that Lipoedema isn’t caused by obesity and can affect people who are a healthy weight.’
Nevertheless, her upbeat attitude is undimmed. ‘I’m lucky, because I have a great life. Some people don’t have it as “easy” as me, but I’m very active, my mobility is great, and aside from some discomfort at times (especially if I have gluten, wheat, dairy and sugar, which I avoid), I generally have no pain. Most of my symptoms occur in the evenings and the mornings; restless legs along with “slicing” sensations, swelling and heat. Also, ironically, after exercise – but compression helps.’
Since receiving her diagnosis, Lisa’s goals have changed. She’s no longer preoccupied by losing weight for this or that event, or fitting into a particular outfit. ‘My main goal now is to not get any bigger, to not get to stage III or IV Lipoedema,’ she says. ‘I’m continuously learning about my own personal inflammatory triggers and the way my body reacts to different foods and types of exercise.’
For Lisa, the ‘nudey swim’ was ‘a way to truly embrace my size and body for what it is’, but she’s already looking ahead. ‘I just love exercising now and the way it makes me feel.’ She’s ready to share her joie de vivre, too – having recently been certified as a Laughter Yoga Leader, Lisa is setting up her own Laughter Club, ‘Lisa’s Laughter Lounge’, later this year.
